Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha and Congress MP Rahul Gandhi being greeted by farmer leaders during the Monsoon session of the Parliament, in New Delhi, Wednesday, July 24, 2024.
Credit: PTI Photo
New Delhi: Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi on Wednesday held a meeting with a group of farmer leaders in Parliament and assured them that the I.N.D.I.A. bloc will put pressure on the government to pass a law to guarantee Minimum Support Price (MSP).
The meeting took place on the invitation of Rahul for a meeting in his office in the Parliament. The Samyukta Kisan Morcha (Non Political) delegation included 12 farmer leaders from Punjab, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, Telangana, Tamil Nadu and Karnataka.
"We will have a discussion with I.N.D.I.A. bloc leaders and will put pressure on the government to ensure that the farmers get a legal guarantee for MSP," Rahul told reporters after the meeting.
The farmer leaders had apprised Rahul of the issues faced by them in various states, including justice for protesting farmers who suffered at the hands of the Haryana government.
"Legal guarantee for MSP is the right of farmers. I.N.D.I.A. will ensure that they get their rights," Rahul posted on 'X' after the meeting.
Congress general secretary KC Venugopal, senior MPs Charanjit Singh Channi, Amarinder Singh Raja Warring, Sukhjinder Singh Randhawa, Gurjeet Singh Aujla, Dharamvir Gandhi, Amar Singh, Deepender Singh Hooda and Jai Prakash were also present in the meeting.
"Snubbed by the government, beaten with sticks and welcomed with bullets, these farmers have lost all expectations from the government," Venugopal posted on 'X'.
Farmer leader Jagjit Singh Dallewal said the I.N.D.I.A. has promised to bring the MSP law and it is their responsibility to bring it.
"Rahul Gandhi is now not only a leader of Congress but is the Leader of Opposition. He has promised to do it. The Haryana government allowed firing of bullets on farmers, now they will be investigating, we will not get justice. Moreover, they have nominated officials for the President's Award. It is sheer oppression. Rahul Gandhi said that he will protest against it, he also assured that he is with us," he told reporters.
Another farmer leader Swaran Singh Pandher said they spoke about various issues.
"There was a long discussion over MSP. We said that the government is presenting a wrong perception over the issue. The second issue was about the atrocities meted out to us on the border when we were coming towards Haryana, the way our farmers were injured and martyred. The third issue was regarding the decision to felicitate Haryana officials. This was the worst decision after the country's independence. Those who opened fire at farmers are being felicitated, this should be stopped," he said.
Farmer leaders also said the Opposition is giving a thought about bringing a private members' bill in Parliament on MSP.
Besides Pander and Dallewal, other farm leaders who attended the meeting were , Lakhwinder Singh, Shantha Kumar, Abhimanyu, Nallanala Venkateshwar Rao, Pandian Ramalingam, Tejveer Singh, Surjit Singh, Ramandeep Singh Mann, Guramneet Singh and Amarjeet Singh.